A bale loading trailer has a bale supporting frame mounted on wheels. A fork assembly is pivotally mounted beside a front end of the frame configured to engage a bale when in a lowered position, and to disengage the bale when in a raised position such that the bale moves onto the front end of the bale supporting frame. A hydraulic cylinder moves the fork assembly between positions. A hydraulic motor driven conveyor chain assembly extends along the bale supporting frame, and loaded bales rest on, and move along the frame in concert with, the conveyor chain. A valve circuit connects the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic motor drive such that as the fork assembly moves from the raised position to the lowered position, hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder through the hydraulic motor drive and causes the conveyor chain assembly to move a bale length rearward.
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1. A bale loading trailer apparatus for loading cylindrical bales, the apparatus comprising:
a bale supporting frame mounted on wheels, with a hitch at a front end thereof adapted for connection to a towing vehicle;
a fork assembly pivotally mounted beside a front end of the bale supporting frame and configured to engage a bale resting on a ground surface when in a lowered position, and to disengage the bale when the fork assembly is in a raised position such that the bale moves onto the front end of the bale supporting frame;
a hydraulic cylinder operative to move the fork assembly between the lowered position and the raised position;
a conveyor chain assembly extending along substantially a length of the bale supporting frame, and configured such that loaded bales rest on the conveyor chain assembly, and move along the bale supporting frame in concert with the conveyor chain assembly;
a hydraulic motor drive operative to move the conveyor chain assembly;
a hydraulic valve circuit connecting the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic motor drive to a hydraulic fluid source, wherein the hydraulic fluid source is operative to direct pressurized hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic valve circuit in either a lowering direction or an opposite raising direction;
wherein the hydraulic fluid source is operative to direct pressurized hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic valve circuit in the lowering direction to move the fork assembly from the raised position to the lowered position and the hydraulic valve circuit is configured such that as the fork assembly moves from the raised position to the lowered position, hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder through the hydraulic motor drive and causes the conveyor chain assembly to move a cycle distance in a rearward direction, and the hydraulic fluid source is operative to direct pressurized hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic valve circuit in the raising direction to move the fork assembly from the lowered position to the raised position and the hydraulic valve circuit is configured such that as the fork assembly moves from the lowered position to the raised position, hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder back to the hydraulic fluid source bypassing the hydraulic motor drive and the conveyor chain assembly remains substantially stationary.
14. A method of loading cylindrical bales, the method comprising:
mounting a bale supporting frame on wheels, and connecting a hitch at a front end thereof to a towing vehicle;
mounting a conveyor chain assembly on the bale supporting frame such that the conveyor chain assembly extends along substantially a length of the bale supporting frame;
connecting a hydraulic motor drive to the conveyor chain assembly such that the hydraulic motor drive is operative to move the conveyor chain assembly;
pivotally mounting a fork assembly beside a front end of the bale supporting frame and configuring a hydraulic cylinder to move the fork assembly between a lowered position and a raised position;
connecting a hydraulic fluid source through a hydraulic valve circuit to the hydraulic cylinder and to the hydraulic motor drive, wherein the hydraulic fluid source is operative to direct pressurized hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic valve circuit in either a lowering direction or an opposite raising direction;
wherein the hydraulic fluid source is operative to direct pressurized hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic valve circuit in the lowering direction to move the fork assembly from the raised position to the lowered position and the hydraulic valve circuit is configured such that as the fork assembly moves from the raised position to the lowered position, hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder through the hydraulic motor drive and causes the conveyor chain assembly to move a cycle distance in a rearward direction; and
the hydraulic fluid source is operative to direct pressurized hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic valve circuit in the raising direction to move the fork assembly from the lowered position to the raised position and the hydraulic valve circuit is configured such that as the fork assembly moves from the lowered position to the raised position, hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder back to the hydraulic fluid source bypassing the hydraulic motor drive and the conveyor chain assembly remains substantially stationary;
maneuvering the towing vehicle with the fork assembly in the lowered position such that the fork assembly engages a first bale resting on a ground surface;
directing pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source through the hydraulic valve circuit in the raising direction such that the conveyor chain assembly remains substantially stationary and the fork assembly moves to the raised position where the fork assembly disengages the first bale and the first bale moves onto the front end of the bale supporting frame and rests on the conveyor chain assembly;
directing pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source through the hydraulic valve circuit in the lowering direction to move the fork assembly from the raised position to the lowered position, and moving the conveyor chain assembly and any bales resting thereon the cycle distance in the rearward direction;
maneuvering the towing vehicle with the fork assembly in the lowered position to engage the fork assembly with a second bale resting on a ground surface; and
directing pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source through the hydraulic valve circuit in the raising direction to move the fork assembly to the raised position such that the second bale moves onto the front end of the bale supporting frame and rests on the conveyor chain assembly forward of the first bale.
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This disclosure relates to the field of agricultural equipment and in particular a trailer for loading and transporting large cylindrical bales of crop material.
Hay, straw and like agricultural products are commonly harvested from the field by cutting same and baling into large cylindrical bales. Various bale moving equipment has been developed to collect these bales and transport same to a storage location.
For example U.S. Pat. No. 8,967,934 to Palmlund et al. discloses a trailer with an elongated bale supporting frame mounted on wheels with a bale lifting assembly mounted on one side. The large cylindrical bales are lifted from the ground by a fork assembly and placed onto the front end of the bale supporting frame. A bale shifting assembly pushes rearward on the front bale to move the row of accumulating bales sequentially rearward as they are loaded until the bale supporting frame is filled. Palmlund also discusses generally the possibility of automating the process of lifting the bale and moving the bale rearward to make room for the next bale.
The trailer of Palmlund carries a single row of bales, while U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,827 to Delaurier discloses a trailer with two side-by-side rows of bales. Delaurier has a fork assembly on each side and a pair of side-by-side bale supporting frames mounted on wheels. The bales rest on a conveyor chain under each row of bales, and each conveyor chain is operated to move the accumulating bales sequentially rearward as they are loaded until the corresponding bale supporting frame is filled.
Similarly Canadian Patent 2,300,006 to Rempel discloses a trailer a pair of side-by-side bale supporting frames mounted. The frames comprise right and left rails, and a conveyor chain running along the top of each rail. The bales rest on the right and left conveyor chains and are moved sequentially rearward by operating the conveyor chains.
The present disclosure provides a bale loading trailer apparatus that overcomes problems in the prior art.
In a first embodiment the present disclosure provides a bale loading trailer apparatus for loading cylindrical bales. The apparatus comprises a bale supporting frame mounted on wheels, with a hitch at a front end thereof adapted for connection to a towing vehicle. A fork assembly is pivotally mounted beside a front end of the bale supporting frame and is configured to engage a bale resting on a ground surface when in a lowered position, and to disengage the bale when the fork assembly is in a raised position such that the bale moves onto the front end of the bale supporting frame. A hydraulic cylinder is operative to move the fork assembly between the lowered position and the raised position. A conveyor chain assembly extends along substantially a length of the bale supporting frame, and is configured such that loaded bales rest on the conveyor chain assembly, and move along the bale supporting frame in concert with the conveyor chain assembly. A hydraulic motor drive is operative to move the conveyor chain assembly. A hydraulic valve circuit connects the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic motor drive such that as the fork assembly moves from the raised position to the lowered position, hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder through the hydraulic motor drive and causes the conveyor chain assembly to move a cycle distance in a rearward direction, and such that as the fork assembly moves from the lowered position to the raised position, the conveyor chain assembly remains substantially stationary.
In a second embodiment the present disclosure provides a method of loading cylindrical bales. The method comprises mounting a bale supporting frame on wheels, and connecting a hitch at a front end thereof to a towing vehicle; pivotally mounting a fork assembly beside a front end of the bale supporting frame and configuring a hydraulic cylinder to move the fork assembly between a lowered position and a raised position; maneuvering the towing vehicle with the fork assembly in the lowered position such that the fork assembly engages a first bale resting on a ground surface; operating the hydraulic cylinder to move the fork assembly to the raised position where the fork assembly disengages the first bale and the first bale moves onto the front end of the bale supporting frame and rests on a conveyor chain assembly extending along substantially a length of the bale supporting frame; wherein the hydraulic cylinder is connected to a hydraulic motor drive operative to move the conveyor chain assembly, the connection configured such that as the fork assembly moves from the raised position to the lowered position, hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder through the hydraulic motor drive, and such that as the fork assembly moves from the lowered position to the raised position, the conveyor chain assembly remains substantially stationary; moving the fork assembly from the raised position to the lowered position such that hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder through the hydraulic motor drive and causes the conveyor chain assembly, and any bales resting thereon, to move a cycle distance in a rearward direction; maneuvering the towing vehicle with the fork assembly in the lowered position to engage the fork assembly with a second bale resting on a ground surface; and operating the hydraulic cylinder to move the fork assembly to the raised position such that the second bale moves onto the front end of the bale supporting frame and rests on the conveyor chain assembly forward of the first bale.
The bale loading trailer apparatus and method of the present disclosure reduces demands on the operator by providing a simple and economical configuration for automatically moving a freshly loaded bale rearwards by rotating the hydraulic motor driving the chain assembly as the fork assembly is lowered after placing a bale on the bale supporting frame. Hydraulic fluid flowing from the hydraulic cylinder that operates the fork assembly is directed through the hydraulic motor or motors as the fork assembly is lowered to a position ready to pick up the next bale. The amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the hydraulic motor or motors is selected to move the bale rearward the desired distance corresponding to the length of the bale.
Thus the operator is freed from the need to move the bale rearward and is able to concentrate on finding the next bale to pick up and maneuver the bale loading trailer apparatus to the required position to do so. Thus operator fatigue and the risk of error and the resulting lost time and possible damage to equipment is reduced.
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
A fork assembly 11 is pivotally mounted about fork pivot axis FPA beside a front end of the bale supporting frame 5 and is configured to engage a bale 3 resting on a ground surface when in a lowered position illustrated in
A conveyor chain assembly 15 extends along the length of the bale supporting frame 5 and is configured such that loaded bales 3 rest on the conveyor chain assembly 15, and move along the bale supporting frame 5 in concert with the conveyor chain assembly 15, and a hydraulic motor drive 17 is operative to move the conveyor chain assembly 15.
The rearward movement of the bales 3 is accomplished automatically when the fork assembly moves from the raised position to the lowered position by providing a hydraulic valve circuit 19, schematically illustrated in
In the illustrated apparatus 1 the bale supporting frame 5 comprises right and left rails 5R, 5L, and the conveyor chain assembly 15 comprises corresponding right and left conveyor chains 15R, 15L extending along top sides of the corresponding right and left rails 5R, 5L. The hydraulic motor drive 17 comprises right and left hydraulic motors 17R, 17L operative to move the corresponding right and left conveyor chains 15R, 15L, and the loaded bales 3 rest on the right and left conveyor chains 15R, 15L.
In the illustrated apparatus the hydraulic cylinder 13 and fork assembly 11 are configured such that as the pressurized hydraulic fluid source 21 directs pressurized hydraulic fluid into a first port 23A of the hydraulic cylinder 13, as schematically illustrated in
The pressurized hydraulic fluid source 21 directs pressurized hydraulic fluid into a second port 23B of the hydraulic cylinder 13 which then moves the piston 25 in retracting direction RD to move the fork assembly 11 from the raised position to the lowered position. The hydraulic fluid source 21, hydraulic cylinder 13, and hydraulic motors 17R, 17L are schematically illustrated in
As the hydraulic fluid source 21 directs hydraulic fluid into the second port 23B the hydraulic cylinder 13 retracts and the fork assembly 11 moves from the raised position to the lowered position. The piston 25 moves in retracting direction RD forcing hydraulic fluid to flow from the first port 23A of the hydraulic cylinder 13. The hydraulic valve circuit 19 is configured to direct flow out of the first port 23A into one of the right and left hydraulic motors, here illustrated as left hydraulic motor 17L, and then from that hydraulic motor 17L into the other hydraulic motor 17R and then back to the hydraulic fluid source 21, as schematically illustrated in
In the apparatus 1 the hydraulic cylinder 13 retracts to move the fork assembly from the raised position to the lowered position. It is well known in the art to configure such a linkage such that the hydraulic cylinder extends when lowering the fork assembly from the raised position to the lowered position. In such a configuration the first and second ports 23A, 23B would simply be on opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinder.
The maximum bale length that can be achieved will depend on the amount of hydraulic fluid available in the hydraulic cylinder 13 that will be pushed through the hydraulic motor drive, and the amount of rotation of the hydraulic motors 17 for a given amount of hydraulic fluid flow will depend on the size of the hydraulic motor drive. Thus the diameter and a stroke of the hydraulic cylinder 13, and the size of the hydraulic motor drive 17, are selected such that a volume of the hydraulic fluid flow is sufficient to provide a cycle distance that is at least equal to the maximum bale length desired.
The present disclosure also provides a method of loading cylindrical bales 3. The method comprises mounting a bale supporting frame 5 on wheels 7, and connecting a hitch 9 at a front end thereof to a towing vehicle 33; pivotally mounting a fork assembly 11 beside a front end of the bale supporting frame 5 and configuring a hydraulic cylinder 13 to move the fork assembly 11 between a lowered position and a raised position; maneuvering the towing vehicle 33 with the fork assembly 11 in the lowered position such that the fork assembly 11 engages a first bale 3A resting on a ground surface; operating the hydraulic cylinder 13 to move the fork assembly 11 to the raised position where the fork assembly 11 disengages the first bale 3A and the first bale 3A moves onto the front end of the bale supporting frame 5 and rests on a conveyor chain assembly 15 extending along substantially a length of the bale supporting frame 5; wherein the hydraulic cylinder 13 is connected to a hydraulic motor drive 17 operative to move the conveyor chain assembly 15, the connection configured such that as the fork assembly 11 moves from the raised position to the lowered position, hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder 13 through the hydraulic motor drive 17, and such that as the fork assembly 11 moves from the lowered position to the raised position, the conveyor chain assembly 15 remains substantially stationary; moving the fork assembly 5 from the raised position to the lowered position such that hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder 13 through the hydraulic motor drive 17 and causes the conveyor chain assembly 15, and any bales 3 resting thereon, to move a cycle distance CD in a rearward direction; maneuvering the towing vehicle 33 with the fork assembly 11 in the lowered position to engage the fork assembly 11 with a second bale 3B resting on a ground surface; and operating the hydraulic cylinder 13 to move the fork assembly 11 to the raised position such that the second bale 3A moves onto the front end of the bale supporting frame 5 and rests on the conveyor chain assembly 15 forward of the first bale 3A.
The bale loading trailer apparatus 1 of the present disclosure reduces demands on the operator by providing a simple and economical configuration for automatically moving a freshly loaded bale rearwards by rotating the hydraulic motor 17 driving the chain assembly 15 as the fork assembly 11 is lowered after placing a bale on the bale supporting frame 5. Hydraulic fluid flowing from the hydraulic cylinder 13 that operates the fork assembly 11 is directed through the hydraulic motor or motors 17 as the fork assembly 11 is lowered to a position ready to pick up the next bale. The amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the hydraulic motor or motors 17 is selected to move the bale rearward the desired distance corresponding to the length of the bale.
Thus the operator is freed from the need to move the bale rearward and is able to concentrate on finding the next bale to pick up and maneuver the bale loading trailer apparatus 1 to the required position to do so. Thus operator fatigue and the risk of error and the resulting lost time and possible damage to equipment is reduced.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
Neudorf, Blake, Regier, Justin
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Dec 10 2015 | NEUDORF, BLAKE | Highline Manufacturing Limited | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 038822 | /0200 | |
Dec 10 2015 | REGIER, JUSTIN | Highline Manufacturing Limited | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 038822 | /0200 | |
May 05 2016 | Highline Manufacturing Limited | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Nov 01 2019 | Highline Manufacturing Ltd | Bourgault Industries Ltd | MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 051641 | /0164 | |
Nov 01 2019 | Bourgault Industries Ltd | Bourgault Industries Ltd | MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 051641 | /0164 |
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